February 2020
THE SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club Vol. 65, No. 1 — February 2020 www.nvabc.org
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NVBC GENERAL MEETING—WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 8 PM
Program: Birding Namibia and Northern Botswana Speakers: Diane Marton and Warren Marton
Birding Namibia and northern Botswana this past July with guide Josh Engel of Red Hill Birding turned out to be the “trip of a lifetime” for Diane and Warren Marton. Set amidst spectacular scenery—the world’s oldest desert and highest sand dunes, a long coastline and a lush riverine forest—is world class birding. Think numerous hornbill and bustard species, Rüppell’s Parrot, Rockrunner, Hartlaub’s Francolins, and the iconic bird of the Okavango, Pel’s Fishing Owl. Add in the palette in pink created by thousands of flamingoes and waterbirds at Walvis Bay. The uncommon Herero Chat, found only in the Namibia Escarpment and never easy to find, popped up in a shrub two feet away from the road. Namibia’s only endemic bird, the Dune Lark, skittered around inches from Diane’s feet as she stood motionless in red sand dunes.
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What could be better? But of course there is African game, the highlight of the trip actually being one of the smaller, the African Wild Cat hunting doves (unsuccessfully) at a waterhole in Etosha National Park.
Diane is a retired children’s librarian with Arlington County, VA. She is a longtime member of the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Rather than participating in local bird walks of late, she has been systematically removing English ivy and other invasives from her yard and replanting with native species. Warren is a retired project manager from the US Department of Energy, where he focused on fusion energy.
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Early bird refreshments start at 7:30 pm. Any contributions of food or beverage will be most gratefully received. There will be a drawing for door prizes. Northern Virginia Bird Club pins will be available for members who would like to buy them ($5 each).
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MEETING PLACE: St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, 22207. Directions are on page 5.
Presidential Peenting
By Larry Meade
It’s unfortunate when politics threatens the well-being of our beloved birds. Right now there are birds in our state that need our help because of both state and federal actions. The Virginia Society of Ornithology reports that “the expansion of the Hampton-Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) will result in the loss of nesting habitat for more than 25,000 seabird adults and chicks. The South Island of the HRBT is an elevated artificial island that currently supports the largest seabird nesting colony in Virginia. The colony is comprised of the state-threatened Gull-Billed Tern as well as Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, Black Skimmers and a variety of gull species.”
The solution to this problem would be to build an artificial island where these birds could find a new nesting site. This was more or less in the works until the Trump administration reinterpreted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to allow actions that now harm birds to take place so long as the harm is an indirect effect of the action. That means that the state is no longer under any obligation to build the island to save the nesting colony.
A variety of organizations have gotten involved and scientists from Virginia Tech have been working with the state. However, everything seems to be at a standstill at this time. The Virginia Department of Transportation has not ruled out building the island, but they do not seem to be in any hurry. As birders, we can try to make a difference by writing to Virginia state officials including Governor Northam, the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Transportation.
Chincoteague Spring Weekend Trip
The Chincoteague Spring Weekend club trip is scheduled for May 15-17 (Friday-Sunday). The trip is limited to 28 people and usually fills up very fast. NVBC membership is required. Registration will open on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 6 am. To sign up for this trip, email Elton Morel at eltonlmorel@verizon.net on that date. When signing up, please indicate whether you are interested in the boat trip (fee) on Sunday morning and a Saturday evening group dinner. If the trip is full, your name can be put on a waiting list.
Mid-May is an excellent time to visit the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Spring shorebird migration is in full swing with most birds in breeding plumage. Most trips tally about 100 species, including such Eastern Shore specialties as Black-necked Stilts, American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Whimbrels, Marbled Godwits, Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibis, Least, Royal, and Common Terns, Black Skimmers, Clapper Rails, Seaside Sparrows, Chuck-will’s-widows, Brown-headed Nuthatches and Boat-tailed Grackles. Last year’s highlight birds were a singing Nelson’s Sparrow in the marsh along the boardwalk nearest the hotel, Red Knots along Tom’s Cove, and Royal Terns dancing in a synchronized courtship display.
Plans for the weekend include birding the Chincoteague NWR on Friday afternoon starting at 3:15 pm (optional) or on Saturday starting at 7:30 am. Activities on Saturday morning include birding along Beach Road, Swan Cove and Tom’s Cove. We will also visit Chincoteague Island Park Trail, looking for land bird migrants, and Queens Sound Flats, the Chincoteague City mudflats and Mariner’s Point. On Sunday morning, we will board a pontoon boat and travel along Chincoteague Inlet then visit Fishing Point at the end of Tom’s Cove and, finally, Black Point Landing, all the while looking mostly for shorebirds along the mudflats. Last year’s boat trip ended with finding a flock of eighty Whimbrels.
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The cost of the boat trip will be about $35 per person. The trip concludes at noon on Sunday. We have obtained a special rate of $92.00 per night, including tax, on twenty rooms for Friday and Saturday nights at the Best Western Chincoteague Island Hotel on Maddox Boulevard. A two-night stay is usually required. Hotel reservations must be made by April 15 to get this special group rate. Participants should make their own reservations by calling 800-553-6117 and be sure to say you are with the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Check-in time is 3 pm on Friday, May 15, and a 48-hour cancellation notice is required. Chincoteague NWR is a U.S. fee area. —Elton Morel
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Cape May, October 2019: Cloudy, windy, sunny, rainy and some birds
By Gerco Hoogeweg and Larry Meade
The NVBC’s 2019 Cape May trip started for many of us with the noon ferry ride from Lewes, DE to Cape May, NJ. As often is the case, we were able to see many interesting birds from the ferry. In the harbor we saw the expected gulls to start our trip list. In the bay we saw good numbers of Northern Gannets of all ages. We were thrilled to see a Parasitic Jaeger making a close flyby of the boat giving those of us in the right place at the right time a great view. Ducks were few and far between, but there were some Black Scoters around. At 3 pm the group visited the Garrett Family Preserve and found many Yellow-rumped Warblers. Great Egrets and a calling Clapper Rail caused some excitement.
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Saturday morning was sunny and we headed out, without a beach walk, to Hereford Lighthouse and Gardens and the adjacent Hereford Inlet. Birding turned out to be good. In the gardens we found several warblers (including Pine) and a few Field Sparrows. Along Hereford Inlet we were treated to a nice show of Dunlins and Sanderlings, several American Oystercatchers, Royal and Forster’s Terns and many different gulls. Large groups of Double-crested Cormorants were seen flying over. Nummy Island, a traditional stop for the group, was quiet. We did see a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk and a Tricolored Heron. In the far distance we saw many Brant. Stone Harbor Point yielded more Brant and in the parking lot we saw Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets. That was a lot of fun. Over the water, there were a few scoters and more Northern Gannets.
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Saturday afternoon was spent at the Cape May Hawk Watch and the Meadows. Hawk migration was rather slow and disappointing this year, but ducks were cooperative. We saw Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers and even a Eurasian Wigeon. We also spotted a Pied-billed Grebe and a lone Common Gallinule. The best bird, unfortunately not seen by all people, was a juvenile Golden Eagle. Earlier in the day this bird was reported at the Hawk Watch. The winds were in our favor and the bird decided to hang out in the area. Late afternoon in the Meadows provided a nice drake Wood Duck and a late American Avocet. A reported Least Bittern was missed by all. We did see a nice Merlin, though.
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Higbee Beach and Dyke is a traditional stop for the Morning Flight. The winds on Sunday were unfavorable which means they were not from the northwest and virtually no morning flight was reported. With low clouds, rain was in the forecast. Finding birds was hard, but we managed to see many Sharp-shinned Hawks, a few Northern Flickers, a Gray Catbird and a Swamp Sparrow. Along the canal we did see two Black Scoters. By 10 am the rain started to fall in earnest and birds were gone and so were the birders. Some of us visited the CMBO Northwood Center and a pavilion at the Cape May State Park. By 2:30 pm the rains and storm had passed through, but the sea still looked like it would be choppy. This was not the case though and we had a fairly pleasant return ferry trip. We saw more Northern Gannets as well as several groups of scoters. In Lewes Gerco photographed a Cormorant on the jetty and this turned out to be a Great Cormorant. Not a bad bird to end the trip with.
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We saw over 102 species with Double-crested Cormorants being the most numerous followed by Brant (likely over counted), Sanderling, Tree Swallow and Yellow-rumped Warbler (likely under counted). Given the lack of ducks and the fact we missed seeing a Northern Harrier, we did pretty well and certainly had fun.
Upcoming Trips and Events
Compiled by Elton Morel
Note:
Beginning birders are welcome on all trips.
When reservations are required, please call one of the trip leaders.
If in doubt about a trip because of weather, please call one of the leaders.
Check the NVBC website for updated information about trips: http://www.nvabc.org/field-trips-this-month.
To receive email notices, join the NVBC eMail Exchange.
February Trips
Feb 5, 8:30 AM: Long Branch – Jeremy Beck, Dave Boltz
Feb 8, 8 AM: Riverbend Visitor Center – Tom Nardone, Elton Morel
Feb 12, 8:30 AM: Burke Lake – Tom Nardone, Elton Morel
Feb 15, 8 AM: Aquia Landing Beach Park – David Ledwith
Feb 19, 8:30 AM: Dyke Marsh – Tom Nardone, Phil Silas
Feb 22, 8:30 AM: Mason Neck SP – Larry Cartwright
Feb 26, 8:30 AM: Huntley Meadows – Dixie Sommers, Dave Boltz
Feb 29, 8:30 AM: Blandy Farm – Elton Morel
March Trips
Mar 1, 5:00 PM: Woodcock Display at Dusk (Huntley Meadows Hike/Bike Trail) – Larry Cartwright, Phil Silas
Mar 4, 8:30 AM: Long Branch – Tom Nardone, Phil Silas
Mar 7, 8 AM: Occoquan Bay NWR – Toby Hardwick, Larry Cartwright, Phil Silas
Mar 11, 8:30 AM: Dyke Marsh – Tom Nardone
Mar 14, 8 AM: Widewater State Park – Elton Morel, David Ledwith
Mar 17, 8:30 AM: Neabsco Regional Park Boardwalk – Phil Silas
Mar 21, 8 AM: Huntley Meadows – Larry Meade
Mar 25, 8:30 AM: Eakin Park – Jean Tatalias
Mar 28, 8 AM: Clifton Institute – Bert Harris, Elton Morel
April & May Trips
Apr 1, 8:30 AM: Long Branch – Elton Morel
Apr 4, 8 AM: Aquia Landing BP – Elton Morel, David Ledwith
Apr 8, 8:30 AM: Bles Park – Jean Tatalias, Toby Hardwick
Apr 11, 7:30 AM: Leopold’s Preserve – Larry Meade, Elton Morel
Apr 15, 8:30 AM: Laurel Hill Equestrian Center – Dixie Sommers
Apr 18, 7:30 AM: Silver Lake RP – Toby Hardwick, Larry Meade
Apr 22, 8:30 AM: Meadowood Recreation Area – Larry Cartwright, Phil Silas
Apr 25, 7:30 AM: Huntley Meadows Hike/Bike Trail – Ken Hunt, Larry Meade
Apr 29, 8:30 AM: Fort C. F. Smith – Jeremy Beck, Elton Morel
May 2, 7:30 AM: Leesylvania SP – Ken Hunt, Elton Morel
Bird Walks at Local Parks * Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve: Second Saturdays, 8 am.
Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship: Fourth Saturday, 8 am.
Dyke Marsh: Sundays, 8 am.
Eakin Park: Mondays, 7:30 am.
Great Falls National Park: Sundays, 8 am.
Huntley Meadows Park: Mondays, 7 am (Apr-Sep) / 8 am (Oct-Mar).
Merrimac Farm: Last Sunday, 8 am.
2020 VSO Annual Meeting
May 1-3, Williamsburg
Save the date – May 1 – 3, 2020 – and plan to attend the VSO Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, VA. Headquarters will be the Fort Magruder Inn and Conference Center, 6945 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA. Room rates are $119 plus tax. Williamsburg is a family friendly destination. While you’re birding the local birding hotspots, your spouse and family can enjoy nearby visitor destinations. If you prefer to camp, we suggest Chickahominy Riverfront Park or Newport News Park.
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Annual Meeting Fee/Registration fee: $45 and Banquet ticket: $35. Online registration will be available March 1, 2020 at the VSO web site. You’ll be able to pay by credit card/debit card/Paypal. Of course, we’ll also accept paper registrations and checks. You don’t have to be a VSO member to attend.
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A theme of this annual meeting is “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” We’re working with the hotel to reduce single-use plastics.
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Bring your own tote bag.
Bring your own water bottle.
We’re reducing paper handouts.
We’re ordering lanyards with the intention of passing them on to next year’s host club.
Our banquet speaker will be Dr. Bryan Watts, Director of the Center for Conservation Biology at W&M/VCU and Mitchell A. Byrd Professor of Conservation Biology. —Virginia Society of Ornithology
Bringing Peregrine Falcons Back to Virginia’s Mountains
National Park Service biologist, Rolf Gubler, will give a talk on March 1, 2020, at 2 pm on the Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project at Shenandoah National Park. A team brings at-risk peregrine falcon chicks from eastern Virginia bridge nest sites to Virginia’s mountains, once part of their historic range. The team hopes the birds will imprint on the park’s cliffs and return as breeding adults. This project boosts mountain peregrine populations and aids in the survival of bridge nest peregrine chicks where fledging is often difficult due to insufficient updrafts.
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Peregrine falcons were used for hunting or falconry as early as 2000 B.C. in China and Egypt. In World War II, both the British/U.S. and the German armies had a falcon corps to intercept the opponent’s homing pigeons. Peregrines are found in rural and urban environments and on every continent except Antarctica.
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This free, open to the public meeting will be held at the Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria. An informal social, beginning at 1:30 pm will precede the presentation. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, the Virginia Society of Ornithology, and the Northern Virginia Bird Club.
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CLUB CONTACTS
President: Larry Meade, 571-275-2523
Vice President, Programs: David Farner, 443-643-6141
Vice President, Field Activities: Elton Morel, 703-907-9951
Secretary: Diane Marton, 703-527-7360
Treasurer: Jean Tatalias, 703-281-6099
Membership: Elizabeth Fenton, 703-533-0851
JOIN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for 2020 are $10 for Individual and $15 for Family Membership. Members receive our quarterly newsletter, The Siskin. Join or renew online at http://www.nvabc.org/join/.
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NVBC eMail Exchange By participating in the club’s email exchange, you can get email notices of late updates to The Siskin and the field trip schedule. To join, send an email to lgmeade@gmail.com with “EXCHANGE” in the subject field and your full name in the message area.
General Meeting Dates: February 19, April 15, September (tbd), and November (tbd), 2020.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday, February 27, 2020, 7:30 pm, at Diane Marton’s home. All club members are welcome .
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